Adjusting to the Cold
The march toward winter continues. My spirit hasn’t accepted the change yet. And my body resists both and cold and the ritual of donning heavier riding gear. The lingering gnaw of a still tweaked back doesn’t help. The world is dim and grey.
I have nothing good to say about any of it.
It’s easy to understand why men and women park their scooters and motorcycles for the winter and walk away from any joy or enlightenment that riding can present. When the thermometer was pointing to 29F a few mornings ago I was asking myself why I would ever ride when it’s that cold. Some would say I’m coming to my senses. Or a grudging acceptance of the aging state of my body. I see the wisdom in both.
Still, I want to ride despite everything. Not riding is a decision I’m not ready to make. It seems a surrender more ominous that merely parking the Vespa for a few months and doing something different. It’s a turning point. One of no return. A realization that I’m leaving something in the past.
Forever.
Lest this post grow dark and dreary there is something positive which grows from the cold — appreciating warmth.
Appreciating warmth.
When the body awakens from the lull of warm weather the contrast between cold and warmth is startling. Wrapping a cold hand around a heated grip is a luxurious feeling. Or better yet around a cup of steaming hot tea.
Riding in cold weather teaches me to appreciate the lovely gift of being warm.
Steve, I am with you on this. Yes, eventually one has to don warmer gear, and will get cold nevertheless. However, I myself love the solitude coming with riding in late fall or early winter, being the only one around on two wheels, and often with less cagers on the road as well because road trips are for the summer time. And the feeling when you wrap your frozen hands around a good cuppa tea… priceless. Enjoy your little outings while you can.
I’ve pursued the solitude you describe for as long as I can remember. Likely accounts for the winter hiking and camping I used to do. The stark contrasts in the world make me feel more alive. Or at least challenged in some way that makes life seem richer.
As far as today goes — I see a hot cuppa in my future.
Appreciating warmth….good way to put it. I like the solitary wandering as mentioned by SonjaM.
I sometimes want to blame the meds we now have to take to combat our bodies afflictions but in reality, I wondered perhaps it’s a case of over-familiarity with ones routes in my case.
I’m hoping the Umarang phase of my riding reignites the will, no, the need to ride in me, weather be damned or rather: challenge once again accepted.
You’re one of the ones who inspired me in this type of riding Steve, there’s no turning back!
Meds, age and failing body definitely contribute to the physical challenges. My back is still bothersome and it’s an uncomfortable chore to get the riding pants on which in turn makes it easier to just say, “It’s too cold…”.
Like you, I’m looking for something to reignite my drive. A ride might do it!
If I inspired you to ride in the cold — you’ve gone far beyond where I was. You are the master sir.
In the bleak mid winter
Frosty wind did moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like stone.
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow.
In the bleak mid winter
Long ago.
Rossetti.
Funny how a poem can paint a picture I can’t possibly make with a camera. Thanks for sharing it Robert. It breathes life into the winter experience I’ve felt…
I’m with you with the lingering back. About 6 weeks ago when doing clean up in the back yard I bent wrong. It was no debilitating but it made me chose the jobs I was going to do. It is better but….. As for cooler riding I have finally changed to my Stich from my mesh gear but it is still to warm for the liners.
Backs. Definitely a weak link. My doctor told me to strengthen — insurance against the stupid things I do…
I haven’t put the liners in yet but it’s not far off. Getting ready to ride now. 42F. Have convinced myself it’s warm outside.
I like the colder weather. I hope to get out on the bike more this year, as this is my first Fall as the owner of a heated liner and gloves. But the “to do” list may win. We’ll see.
Was thinking about you earlier this week when cold descended upon us here in Southern Ontario. the change of temperature from comfortable to cooler separates the die-hard travellers on two wheels (powered and un-powered (bicycles)) from all others.
The obnoxious whine of crotch rockets, the loud noise of unmufflered large displacement motorcycles are gone.
Wimps!
Such nasty noises might again appear on nice days for those so inclined; however once road salt appears most such devices disappear.
Then too like yourself think of times past. Ten years ago was preparing for my mother’s 90th birthday, and then later in November major surgery for myself. Little did I know the surgery and subsequent chemo would never allow me to ride a motorcycle ever again.
It is said cancer and its cures either kills you or makes you so damn miserable afterwards you wonder if it was really worth it. My Mum is now gone, my motorcycle too, and even now find my mobility limited, Getting old and surviving cancer is not for sissies!
So keep riding as long as you are able; a year from now you will not have to remove yourself from a warm bed to mount your Italian steed and trundle off to daily employment. Then you can sit inside after allowing the dogs a run and a game of catch the ball and sit and have that warm cup of morning tea, as I am doing now (just the tea).
For me, as they say, “It’s not the end of the road, but I can see it from here.” From a few years back, I find my resolve to ride until it gets icy softening. Still, on cold, gloomy mornings, I somewhat reluctantly don my gear, and when I sniff the cool air, I realize why I’m still riding.
Funny, I think it’s the contrasts in life that sharpen our senses and help us feel alive. I know how much I’d hate to live somewhere “wonderful” with consistent (and boring) weather that lulls one into complacency.
As for warm beverages, I don’t use them for respite from the cold, yet, but do appreciate them for the consistent and reliable pleasure they bring…..
Hang in there with the back. Glad it’s at least doing better. Sometimes these things take a lot longer than you want them to.
I think you’re right about contrasts in life — the comparisons do sharpen my appreciation of things as well.
The back is slow in recovering. All my doctors tell me it will take time. Patience is the word of the day for the patient…
Warmth is good but in many areas of the world, it’s overdone. You can say the same about cold. I some areas of the world, it’s overdone. Just keep moving around to be in the perfect temperature whatever that is for you.
Everything in moderation I guess. Not sure I can move far enough to keep things where I might consider it perfect. Or at least, it would be impractical.
Look into USB powered heated products. Very cheap on ebay.
a 6cm x 20 cm pair of pads is only $5 and pulls 1A @ 5v, it could run with a usb power adapter, or even tweaked to work on 12v. They’re made of carbon fiber and are really tough and give a nice even heat over wire.
There are a ton of other 12v/5v heated products you can buy on ebay that works really well with a warm jacket and much cheaper than any other electric vest you could buy.
Thanks for the tip about the heated pads. I’ll do some sleuthing on eBAy.
Oh, how heat comes and goes this month!
Yesterday, I took an hour meandering along the Jersey coast some 20 miles or so from home, just wandering along a road or two I’d been curious about since shortly after moving here from Gotham, and now that Melody’s a part of my traveling regimen, the getting-out-and-exploring bit is a lot easier. And, the warm-ish breezes…not nearly worm enough to be oppressive, but not at all chilly, even tooling along at some 40-50mph. (No windscreen yet…working on that now, plus a set of low-profile crash bars.) Found some delightful – and delightfully steep! – side roads and streets, and a bridge which on the return trip gives you the near-sensation of leaping headlong into the Atlantic. Wish I could’ve indulged myself a bit longer, but there was other stuff to get done via the scoot. But what an enchanting part of the day this was
(Tomorrow’s supposed to be even warmer, but not quite as sunny.)
Exploring new places is one of the best and most looked for experiences of riding for me. I’ve ridden so much here that I have to keep pushing further and further from home to find those new roads. I’ll be on the Atlantic coast at some point looking…
In that case, I can certainly recommend Breezy Point here in NJ. Still learning about the place myself, and the Vespa is certainly close to the best (if not the best) way to explore. Tomorrow’s temps are supposed to hit around 65°, but I might need to fight for the riding time to get there again.